Tanauan champ riders represent RP in skimboarding fete in Malaysia

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 4, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The champions in the 3rd National Skimboarding Competition held on Easter Sunday at the Tanauan, Leyte shores will have the chance to represent the country in the First International Skimboarding Competition in Penang, Malaysia on July 14, 2007.

Mayor Roque Tiu whose town, Tanauan, Leyte is tagged as the Skimboarding Capital of the Philippines, jubilantly informed that the champions were invited by the organizer of the said competition, Mr. Jet Shon who was in Tanauan as sponsor during the 2nd National Skimboarding Competition.

National Champion Dariel “Porac” Espada, 19 years old from San Roque, Tanauan and first runner-up Leo “Longcoy” Espada, 20 years old, also from San Roque, Tanauan will be joined by the Wahini champion Sheryl Pajelleno, 17 years old, in representing the Philippine Skimboard Association in the international skimboarding competition.

The young champion riders could hardly believe their luck, Mayor Tiu intimated. They never expected to represent the Philippines, more so to travel in foreign land. They do not even have the passport yet but thanks to the PIA Director who contacted the Regional Director of the Department Affairs, the young riders were assisted in processing their passports.

Mayor Tiu revealed that the trip of the champions is sponsored by the Victoria Skimboards based in the United States, as prize of their winning in the 3rd National Skimboarding Competition.

The Filipino representatives will be accompanied to Penang, Malaysia by no less than Mayor Roque Tiu who sees this as a great opportunity to invite the skim riders from other countries especially those from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Japan, to participate in the 4th National Skimboarding Competition in Tanauan, Leyte in December of this year.

This is the municipality’s contribution to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s thrust of making Central Philippines as the Tourism Capital of the country under the mega regions scheme.